The Canary Murder Case (1929) Movie Script
1
(bright orchestral music)
(bells chiming)
(tense orchestral music)
(gentle thoughtful orchestral music)
(gentle thoughtful orchestral music continues)
(lively upbeat music)
(light gentle music)
Tell me, Vance, what happened backstage?
Were you able to see the Canary?
No luck, Charles.
She's about as hard to get at in her dressing room
as she is in that swing.
(Charles chuckles)
(audience applauding)
If you want an idea of what I ran into back there,
let me point out a few of her admirers.
(audience applauding)
(audience applauding)
You see the man standing in the box opposite?
Yeah.
(audience applauding)
That's Dr. Lindquist.
Oh.
He was outside her dressing room just now,
along with these other two.
I understand that the Canary
has her claws in all three of them.
Are they rich?
Mm, naturally.
Then what does she want with my son?
The allowance I give Jimmy is hardly tempting.
Ah, my dear Charles,
our little feathered friend in the swing there
has social ambitions.
She wants to be Mrs. Jimmy Spottswoode.
No, impossible.
I'd do anything in my power to prevent that,
even if Jimmy still cared for her.
And I still believe that she'll
listen to dollars and cents.
Hm, I wouldn't be too sure of that, Charles.
As you know, I've more or less made a hobby of crime
and the criminal.
That girl is no ordinary blackmailer.
I'm firmly convinced
that she'll stop at nothing to marry Jimmy.
But Jimmy won't have her.
I tell you, he's really come to his senses.
Another girl?
Yes.
Well, you know her: Alice.
Oh, yes, of course.
A very nice girl, too.
Yes, she is.
Vance, I'm afraid I'll have to use my own judgment
in this matter.
I'm going to see this Canary at her apartment
as soon as possible.
Very well, Charles.
But act quickly.
Oh, I know you'll smile,
but, you know, I have a strange premonition
that the Canary is headed for disaster.
(audience applauding)
(climatic upbeat orchestral music)
Evening, Mr. Spottswoode.
Hello, there.
Shall I announce you to Miss O'Dell?
No, don't bother, that's perfectly all right.
Very well.
Jimmy!
[Jimmy] Alice!
Jimmy, you were going to see the Canary again.
No, I wasn't, dear.
In fact, I just started to put this note under her door
to tell her so.
Oh, Jimmy, I'm afraid of her.
Oh, she's clever and cruel and unscrupulous.
She'll hurt us again, I know she will.
No, dear, she can't hurt us now.
I say, boy, will you announce my...
Uh, never mind.
Yes, sir.
[Charles] Hello, Jimmy.
Why, hello, Dad.
Good evening, Alice.
Good evening, Mr. Spottswoode.
You know, I'm delighted that you
and Jimmy have made it up again.
Thank you.
You know, I'm going to try to show you
that all showgirls aren't like, well-
Like, the Canary, eh?
Yes.
Yes, I want to talk to her.
Do you suppose she's home yet?
I suppose so.
You know, Dad, you're-you're a regular guy
for helping me out of this thing.
You know, if...
if the Canary ever came between Alice and me again,
I don't know what I'd do.
I don't know what I'd do.
It's all right, Jimmy.
I'll do everything I can.
Shall I go along with you?
No, I can handle this better alone.
I'll send in my name now.
(phone ringing)
[Hall Boy] Mr.- Mr. Spottswoode calling.
Send him in, please.
Good evening, Miss O'Dell.
Good evening.
Shall we go over here?
Why, yes.
Will you sit down?
Thank you.
Well, I don't think we need waste any time, Miss O'Dell.
You know why I'm here.
How much?
Nothing doing, Mr. Spottswoode.
I've decided to marry Jimmy.
I'm afraid that marriage
is quite out of the question, Miss O'Dell.
[Margaret] Oh, you're sure about that, are you?
I'm positive.
Well, how would you like me to tell the world
about Jimmy's embezzling from your bank?
What?
[Margaret] You heard me.
You know Jimmy has a weakness for writing letters,
and I have a weakness for using them.
If Jimmy did write you a letter, you'll tear it up,
now, before I leave here.
Sure, go ahead.
Tear it up yourself.
My memory's still perfect.
Oh, yes. Yes, I see.
Yes.
Very well. You win.
Now, what do you really want?
[Margaret] I've told you what I want.
I want to be Mrs. James Spottswoode, and that's that!
Oh, haven't you any heart?
Won't you give him up, Miss O'Dell?
For the sake of his happiness,
for the sake of the girl whom he really loves, give him up.
[Margaret] Now, what do you want me to do?
Burst out cryin'?
Listen, Mr. Spottswoode, I know all about Jimmy and Alice,
and if he marries her,
I'll tell every newspaper in this country
that he's a dirty thief.
Oh, no, you wouldn't dare do that.
That's blackmail.
[Margaret] Sure, it is!
Call it anything you like!
But get this into your head
that that's what I'm going to do!
Well, that remains to be seen.
Goodnight.
(phone ringing)
[Margaret] Mr. Cleaver, please.
This is Mr. Cleaver speaking.
[Margaret] Not the Mr. Cleaver, the great reformer?
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Yes.
[Margaret] Well, this is your favorite weakness.
Margaret!
[Margaret] Don't get nervous, baby.
I've got some news for you.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Good news?
[Margaret] Yes, darling.
I'm going to marry young Spottswoode.
Well, well, well.
May I send you my heartiest congratulations?
[Margaret] You bet you can.
But send them from Tiffany's.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] What's that?
You heard me.
And send me one of those fancy autographs of yours
on a nice fat check.
I'm very sorry but I'm afraid I shall have to refuse.
[Margaret] Oh, be yourself.
Big reformers who lead double lives can't refuse.
Now, look here, I'll see you dead first!
[Margaret] Listen,
you be here after the theater with the dough and like it.
The little rat! (Phone handset slams)
(phone ringing)
May I speak to Mr. Louis Mannix, please?
[Louis] Quiet, quiet. My wife.
[Margaret] Don't get excited.
I just thought you'd like to know
I've sold the body down the river.
I'm gonna marry young Spottswoode.
(laughing) Splendid.
[Margaret] Yes, darling.
And I've decided that you're the best man.
[Louis] Best man?
Yeah, the best man I know of to kick in
with a nice, handsome present in cash.
[Louis] Now, see here, you know I can't afford-
What you mean is, you can't afford to let the ball
and chain know what a bighearted Santy Clause you've been.
Now, look here. I've told you what I'd do to you
if you ever got to the wife.
Forget that bunk,
and be on my front porch after the show with that jack,
or I'll get to your wife, all right.
(phone ringing)
It's Dr. Lindquist speaking.
Oh, yes, Dr. Lindquist.
How would you like to do me a little favor?
Why, certainly, Margaret.
I'd do anything for you, you know.
How'd you like to go jump in the lake?
Oh, Margaret, don't joke with me.
I'm not in the mood for it.
Ah, get wise to yourself.
I'm through with you.
You give me the willies!
I warn you, Margaret, I'm desperate.
If I can't have you, no other
man shall ever have you alive!
(mirror clatters)
[Margaret] Tony?
In person, baby.
How's my little squaw?
[Margaret] I thought you were still in jail.
Well, I got tired of the big house, Mrs. Skeel,
so I dropped in to see my little wife.
[Margaret] I'm not your wife.
How come?
[Margaret] I divorced you six months ago.
Yeah?
Listen, baby, a little thing like a divorce
don't mean anything to me.
I heard you taking those suckers down over the phone.
And I'm in and in on the works, 50/50.
[Margaret] You big crook!
You're not in on this one!
Don't, you big heel!
(hand slaps)
(Margaret sobs)
Hey, I ought to bump you off.
[Margaret] You do and you'll swing for it.
Yeah? Well, maybe it'd be worth it.
Now, get this:
I'm in on this racket.
I'll be back for my cut.
[Margaret] Yeah? Try and get it.
Say, baby, don't bother changing the box on this door.
The lock I can't pick is still in Yale.
(door clunking)
(bell chimes)
Miss O'Dell?
May I see you for a few moments, please?
[Margaret] it won't get you anything, but come ahead.
Thank you.
I have something to say to you, Miss O'Dell,
which I believe will make you change your mind about Jimmy.
[Paper Boy] Paper, mister?
Morning paper?
No, no.
No.
[Paper Boy] Thanks, mister.
Very well, Miss O'Dell.
That suits me perfectly.
Think it over tonight,
and I'll come for your answer in the morning.
Goodnight.
Boy, would you call me a taxi, please?
Yes, sir.
(Margaret screaming)
What's that?
(stammers) Miss O'Dell!
(knocking on door)
Miss O'Dell?
What's wrong?
[Margaret] Something startled me, Mr. Spottswoode,
but I'm all right now.
Are you sure you're all right?
[Margaret] Yes, quite sure.
Run along home and come back in the morning.
Very well, then.
I'll see you in the morning.
Goodnight.
Steinmetz Club.
[Driver] Yes, sir.
(hall boy snoring)
(servant sneezes)
Say, fella.
(stammering) What's the big idea, you coming in here late?
Who? Me late?
Yeah, you late.
I've been here for an hour.
I don't want that stuff.
- Well, I-
- I-I-beg your pardon.
Mr. Spottswoode, calling on Miss O'Dell, by appointment.
She don't answer.
Has she gone out, do you think?
I've been on all night.
And you haven't seen her go out?
No, sir.
That's funny.
Do you suppose she can be ill?
Well, we may go and knock.
Yes, yes, let's do that.
(knocking on door)
Miss O'Dell?
Miss O'Dell?
Are you ill?
[Hall Boy] No! (Panting)
No!
- What's the matter?
[Hall Boy] (stammering) Somethin' has happened!
Well, go get your passkey.
Yes, yes.
Say, fella, get running, get a cop.
And, say, get a (stammering) big one, too!
You better let me have that.
(key rattling)
What's the matter here?
Something's happened in there, officer.
Better take that key and go in.
(key rattling)
She's dead.
(phone dialer whirring)
Police headquarters, please.
(phone ringing)
Patrolman Cassidy speaking.
There's a woman dead at 184 West 71st Street.
It looks like murder.
Okay, Cassidy.
She's been dead since midnight, Sergeant.
Strangled to death.
That long, huh?
Sergeant, the district attorney just pulled up,
and he's coming right in.
[Sgt. Heath] That's great.
He's got that Mr. Philo Vance with him.
Well, that'll be just dandy.
Sherlock Holmes on the job again, huh?
Heads up, boys.
Good morning, Sergeant.
Good morning, Mr. Markham.
Well, hello, Mr. Vance.
How are you, Sergeant?
Fine. Haven't seen you since the Greene murder case.
Quite right.
Oh, good morning, Mr. Spottswoode.
[Charles] Good morning, Mr. Markham.
Well, Sergeant, what's it look like?
Well, Chief, just another clear case of robbery,
all I can make out of it.
Nasty business, Charles, huh?
Oh, terrible.
As you know, I was here last night
to make my final appeal to her.
For Jimmy.
And when I came back this morning for her answer,
this had happened.
Yes.
They'll probably want to keep you here
for a few moments, Charles.
Yes, I suppose, they will.
And by the way, I explained to the district attorney
on the way down about Jimmy and the girl here.
Oh, that's good.
I'm glad you did that, Philo.
You know, if I can tell you anything that will help...
Well, perhaps later, Charles.
Meanwhile, I'll have a bit of a look about.
I don't think there's anything
worth you looking at, Mr. Vance.
It's a clear case, robbery.
She put up a battle, and they wrecked the joint.
I see.
As simple as that, huh?
That's it.
Well, just the same, Sergeant, if you don't mind,
I think I'll have just one little look.
Surely, Mr. Vance, go right ahead.
Make yourself perfectly at home.
Thank you, Sergeant.
(stammering) Excuse me, Mr. Policeman,
when do we sleep?
[Sgt. Heath] Now, you get this, sonny boy,
you'll go for a long sleep
unless you button up that big trap of yours.
- Yes, sir.
- Oh, Sergeant?
[Sgt. Heath] Yes, Chief.
[Philo] Any fingerprints?
[Sgt. Heath] Well, so far, no.
I'll tell you, this job was done by an expert.
It's perfect.
Yes, that's just the trouble.
[Sgt. Heath] What's that?
It's too perfect.
Well, that's a little over my head, Mr. Vance.
Just what do you mean by "too perfect"?
Well, Sergeant, what usually happens
when a heavy lamp like that is knocked off a table?
Well, I don't know, but I'll bite.
What does happen?
It usually smashes, doesn't it?
It might.
Well, look at that one.
Well, what about it?
Well, simply that that lamp was placed there
to give the effect of a struggle.
Hm, maybe.
Let me see, Sergeant.
It does look a little obvious, doesn't it, Vance?
I should say so.
Hey, boy, what happened here last night
after you heard Miss O'Dell scream,
and you and Mr. Spottswoode ran down the hall to her door?
Why, she-she said she was all right.
And I called Mr. Spottswoode a taxicab.
And you've got a way with it?
Yes, sir.
(chuckles) That's all right.
What time was this?
It's on the call sheet that I gave you, about...
(hall boy stuttering)
Never mind, I-I can read it.
"12:10."
Now, Mr. Spottswoode,
where did you go last evening after you left here?
I went directly to the Steinmetz Club.
That's right, Sergeant.
I met Mr. Spottswoode at the club shortly after 12:00.
We played poker until almost
daylight, I believe, wasn't it?
It must have been.
I know it was long after 4:00.
Oh, yeah, you mentioned that coming down here, Vance.
Right.
That'll be all for the present, Mr. Spottswoode.
Thank you, Markham.
But if you do want me later on, Mr. Vance has my number.
- Quite right.
- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.
- Goodbye, Charles.
I'll phone you.
Go right ahead, boys.
Joe. (Speaking faintly)
Oh, Sergeant,
would you step over here for a moment, please?
All right, Mr. Vance, what is it now?
Do you observe anything peculiar here?
Why, surely.
The key is on the inside.
Excellent, Sergeant.
Don't you think we might go
over that knob for fingerprints?
Well, now, uh, I...
Oh, I get you, Mr. Vance.
The murderer locked himself in this closet.
When Spottswoode left, he came out and croaked the Canary.
No, I hardly think so, Sergeant.
If you will observe,
this is the one place in the entire apartment
that hasn't been disturbed.
Now, what does that signify?
That and the fact of the key being found on the inside?
Just as I told you.
The murderer was in this closet
and came out when Spottswoode left.
Hm, I don't think you quite get my point, Sergeant.
If the murderer had been in here,
he would have upset this closet,
as he did the rest of the apartment, wouldn't he?
Well, yes. I guess he would.
Precisely.
Gentlemen, it was someone else who was in that closet
while the apartment was being ransacked.
And that someone witnessed the murder.
Through the keyhole?
Splendid, Sergeant.
And if you'll find who was in that closet,
I think you'll learn from him, or her,
who it was that killed the Canary.
Sergeant, get the fingerprints, will you?
Oh, Joe.
Oh, Sergeant, you might check up on the other apartments.
Mr. Vance and I are going outside.
You, come here.
(stammering) Yes, sir.
Who lives in that apartment there?
(stammering) Miss Alice LaFosse.
Isn't she the dame that had the battle
with the Canary the other night, over young Spottswoode?
(hall boy stuttering)
All right, all right.
Impossible to get in here.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] I'd say so.
Hmm.
Well, what's this?
Mm.
That's odd. May prove very interesting.
What do you think?
I see, Miss LaFosse.
I see.
But you and the Canary had a fight
over young Spottswoode, didn't you?
Why, yes, we did have a fight.
You see, she took Jimmy away from me
and got him into trouble.
But that's all over now.
Jimmy and I made it up just the day before yesterday.
You didn't see young Spottswoode last night, did you?
Why, yes.
He brought me home from the theater.
Ah-ha!
So he was hanging around here last night, was he?
Yes, but he was with me until after one o'clock.
Now, wait a minute, lady.
Wait a minute.
You save your alibis till we get you down to headquarters.
Go slip on your things.
Why, look, you don't think that-
Put 'em on!
Oh, Mr. Vance, I'm frightened.
Now, don't you be worried, Alice.
Just you do as the sergeant says.
All right.
(door clunking)
You know, I'm beginning to question
this robbery theory, Mr. Vance.
You and I were right.
Hmm?
Oh, yes.
Why, I can see plainly that this murder
is all mixed up in a love pact.
[Philo] Hm!
You know, Chief, I think we better round up
this young Spottswoode and give him the works.
What do you say?
Quite right, Sergeant.
Markham, I'd like you to add a few names to that list,
if you don't mind?
The men I mentioned on the way up here:
A Dr. Ambrose Lindquist,
John Cleaver, and Louis Mannix.
Well, young man, what do you know about
what happened at the Canary's apartment last night?
Nothing.
Look here, sir, that has nothing to do with Alice.
Uh, I mean, Miss LaFosse.
The papers say the Canary was murdered before midnight
and, I tell you, we were together the whole time.
It isn't fair to hold her.
You haven't the right.
Now, Jimmy, don't get worked up.
Everything's going to be all right.
Why not interview the others first, Markham?
Very well.
Gordon, take Mr. Spottswoode out in the other room
and hold him there.
I'll talk to you later, young man.
(door clunking)
There you are.
Well, who's next on the list?
Mannix.
I'd like to make a bit of an experiment, Markham.
Have you a pad and pencil there?
Yes.
There you are.
You have that newspaper handy?
Yes, right here.
- All ready?
- All right.
(door clunking)
Morning, Mr. Vance.
Good morning.
Mr. Markham.
- Good morning.
Will you please take a seat?
Thank you.
Ooh. (Chuckles)
Sorry.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Mr. Mannix,
there are a few questions I'd like to ask you.
Questions?
What about?
I don't know anything about this.
It's a great shock to me.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] What was a great shock to you?
Well, I...
I thought perhaps you were going
to ask me about the Canary.
(chuckles) Exactly.
You read my thoughts, Mr. Mannix.
Did you ever see that necklace before?
Why-Why, yes.
Fact is, I gave that to the Canary.
Little token of esteem.
Nice girl, the Canary.
I'd met her once or twice.
(laughs) A casual acquaintance.
Rather an expensive gift
to give to a casual acquaintance, isn't it?
Do you know that the Canary
was strangled with that necklace?
(necklace clatters)
Most remarkable.
Unfortunate, I should say.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Where were you last night,
between 11:00 and one o'clock?
Between 11:00 and 1:00?
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Yes.
Let me see.
Why, I was home.
I went to bed about 10 o'clock.
Uh, tired out, (chuckles) you understand.
Pardon me, Mr. Mannix.
Any comment to make, Mr. Mannix?
Odd habit of mine, drawing triangles.
Now, Mr. Mannix,
if you were in your bed last night at 10 o'clock,
how did you manage to drop that newspaper
just outside the Canary's apartment?
That edition isn't on the streets until 11:00.
Well, you've caught me.
I'll tell the truth.
It's always best to tell the truth,
especially when there's no reason to lie.
It was like this:
The Canary called my home at dinnertime last night.
Most embarrassing. (Chuckles)
Mrs. Mannix was with me.
I had omitted to tell my wife about the Canary.
She wouldn't have understood. (Chuckles)
The Canary told me that she was going to be married
and wanted to see me.
Said that I should come to her apartment at 11 o'clock.
Well, I...
(chuckles) I couldn't argue over the phone.
(chuckles) The missus was listening.
So I said all right.
So at 11 o'clock, I went to the Canary's apartment.
I entered the hall by a side door.
I went directly to her apartment.
I was about to enter when I heard voices inside.
I listened.
There was a man in there, and he was arguing.
(chuckling) Of course, well, that was no place for me,
so I returned home without seeing the Canary
or entering her apartment.
Well, uh, that'll be all the questioning
for the present, Mr. Mannix,
but I'll have to ask you to wait in the outer office.
I may want to speak to you later on.
Oh, well, won't you let me go home?
I'll get in an awful mess with my wife.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] I'm sorry, you'll have to wait.
Oh, Mr. Markham, I wouldn't run away.
Uh, Melfield.
That'll be all.
Mr. Markham?
You've gotta help me square this with my wife.
(door clunking)
We will now have, uh, Mr. Cleaver.
Good morning, Mr. Cleaver.
Good morning, Mr. Markham.
Can I do anything for you?
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Will you please have a seat?
Mind if I smoke a cigar?
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Oh, please do.
Uh, Mr. Cleaver, do you mind if I ask you some questions?
(match striking)
Why, of course, if I can be of any help.
Where were you last night between 11:00 and 1 o'clock?
Motoring up the Hudson.
In the moonlight.
Alone. (Blows)
Though, I don't see what that has to do
with the district attorney's office.
Well, only this, Mr. Cleaver:
if you were indulging in the nocturnal beauties of nature
along the Hudson last evening,
how did it happen that this cigar band,
bearing your initials,
was found just outside the Canary's window
at an early hour this morning?
Well, if I was passing the Canary's apartment,
you can't twist that into a crime.
[Philo] Oh, then you did pass her apartment?
Why, yes, I...
I've nothing to hide.
It was about dinnertime last night.
The Canary phoned to me.
Oh, of course, my-my acquaintance with her
was wholly in my line as social reformer.
I'd hoped that she was going to leave her immoral life
and-and marry and settle down, be a good woman.
And, uh, you kept the appointment?
Yes.
Yes, and no.
I was a little late.
I arrived at her apartment about a quarter to 12:00,
or thereabouts.
I waited for a minute outside her window to light a cigar.
Then I glanced down to the side entrance to the building,
and who should I chance to see
but Dr. Lindquist.
He was behaving in a very peculiar manner.
Seemed to me very queer.
Very mysterious.
I didn't like it.
So I made up my mind not to see the Canary again.
And I turned, walked back home.
Now, that's all I can tell you.
I'm a busy man and I hope you'll excuse me.
I'm very sorry, Mr. Cleaver,
but I'll have to ask you to wait in the outer office.
I might want to question you again.
You mark my words, Markham,
you'll be sorry for this.
(chuckling) Well, I'll take my chances, Mr. Cleaver.
Charming fellow, Cleaver.
Yeah, rather.
By the way, Vance I didn't see you pick up this cigar band
in front of the Canary's apartment this morning.
I didn't.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Where did you get it?
From your waste basket.
Wastebasket?
Cleaver dropped it there when he entered.
I took a chance on his not remembering that.
It seemed to work.
(chuckles) Well, I'll be...
Hmm.
Very good.
Dr. Lindquist.
[Dr. Lindquist] Let me go.
Come on, Doctor.
Take your hands off me!
We caught Dr. Lindquist just as he was leaving town.
That's a lie.
I was on my way to a patient.
Would you please sit down, Doctor?
I'd like to ask you a few questions.
Doctor, where were you last night between 11:00
and one o'clock?
None of your business.
It is some of my business.
You were seen coming out
of the Canary's apartment at midnight.
Why you!
Not so fast, Doctor.
Calm yourself, Doctor.
I'm sorry.
I lost my temper.
I'm under a terrible strain.
I loved the Canary dearly
and I'm terribly upset.
Do you know that the Canary
was strangled with that necklace?
(necklace rattles)
Good God.
You...
You don't accuse me?
Now, Dr. Lindquist,
there's really no need for you to be excited.
Now, Mr. Markham here
is merely trying to find out what you know.
I know? Know?
I know nothing.
- One moment, Doctor.
Markham, don't you think that we might postpone
the interview with Dr. Lindquist for a while?
Why, what...
Very well.
That'll be all for the present, Doctor.
I'd like to have you remain in the outer office.
Come on, Doctor.
(door clunking)
[Dist. Atty. Markham] What was the idea, Vance?
We had him where he was about to tell us everything.
Well, on the contrary, Markham.
In his present extremely excited condition,
I very much doubt if he would have told us anything.
I do think, however, that if we give him a chance
to cool off a bit, he's very likely to tell us the truth.
Well, perhaps you're right.
Good morning, Sergeant.
How are you, Sergeant?
Good morning, Chief.
Hello, Mr. Vance.
(package thuds)
Take a slant at those.
There's the Canary's jewels.
They were found in an ash can
about a block from her apartment this morning.
I guess that kind of disproves the robbery theory.
We were right, Mr. Vance.
[Philo] Hmm?
I say, we were right.
Oh.
Oh, yes.
Yes, apparently we were, Sergeant.
[Sgt. Heath] Now it's up to us to find another motive.
Yes, quite right, Sergeant.
You know, Markham, I've been
thinking this over all morning.
And I believe that I can come pretty close
to the psychology of the man who committed this murder.
I believe that I can pick him out
from that list of suspects, if he's among them.
However, it will require a bit of an experiment.
What is in your mind?
Well, I'd like to use that conference room of yours there
for a friendly little game of poker with your suspects.
Well, now, that's a cute idea.
Now, just what is your idea, Vance?
Well, just this, Markham:
A man's true nature always comes out in a game of poker.
Now, I know the type and the temperament
of the man who murdered the Canary.
And in a game of poker,
I believe that I can come pretty close
to putting my finger on him.
That's a new way of catching crooks. (Laughing)
Leave it, Sergeant, will you please?
Well, go ahead, Vance.
The experiment can do no harm.
Quite right.
Now, I'd like to have the sergeant's help.
Well, I'd be very glad to help you, Mr. Vance,
as long as you don't try to hang the murder on me.
Sergeant, will you take Mr. Vance's orders, please?
Okay, Chief.
Will you get me a deck of cards
and have some poker chips handy just outside there?
That's easy.
Then bring in the suspects and impress upon them
that they may be detained here for quite a while,
possibly two or even three hours.
Well, that's okay, Mr. Vance,
but how are you gonna get these suspects
into this poker game without it appearing phony to them?
Well, Sergeant, I rather think
that the power of suggestion will take care of that.
Oh, power of suggestion.
Exactly.
Now, Sergeant, look in from time to time.
And when I pull my handkerchief from my pocket, like so,
break up the game by telling them
that they're all free to go home.
Understand?
I get you.
But when you release them, I'll have my boys tail 'em.
[Philo] Very good, Sergeant.
And, Mr. Vance,
here's to the power of suggestion. (Laughing)
Jimmy.
Now, gentlemen, you're liable to be here
for two or three hours.
Perhaps longer.
[Louis] That's outrageous.
Just make yourselves at home.
You know, this is going to get me
in an awful mess with my wife.
That is of no interest to me.
I'm sorry.
What's the idea, Mr. Vance?
Well, what are they gonna do with Alice?
[Philo] Now, Jimmy, don't you worry.
Nothing's going to happen to Alice.
Say, Mr. Vance, you know, this is gonna get me
in an awful mess with my wife.
Martha's a...
My wife's a wonderful woman and all that,
but sometimes, she just doesn't understand me.
The last time I was a little indiscreet,
it cost me a fur coat.
(chuckling) I hate to think what this is gonna cost.
Don't you think if you put...
Oh, (chuckles) beg your pardon, I'm sorry.
Mr. Vance, you haven't got an
extra pack of cards, have you?
I'm sorry, Mr. Mannix, but you're welcome to these.
Oh, no. No, no, thanks just the same. (Chuckles)
I, uh...
I wish we could play a little cards.
Say, that's a good idea!
How about poker?
[Philo] I'm agreeable.
What about the others?
Dr. Lindquist?
Anything to pass the time.
Mr. Cleaver?
Well, uh, as a rule, it's against my principles.
But I suppose on an occasion like this one,
one can relax a little.
Just draw up a chair, gentlemen.
Thank you.
Sergeant, how about some poker chips?
[Sgt. Heath] Surely.
(door clunking)
- Chief?
- Yes?
Mr. Spottswoode is here.
Have him in.
[Joe] Come in, Mr. Spottswoode.
Good morning, Mr. Spottswoode.
Good morning, Markham. Good morning
I say, Markham, what are you holding Jimmy for?
Surely, you're not accusing him?
No, no, of course not!
We're simply trying to find out what he knows, that's all.
Oh, yes, yes.
Where is he now?
Why, in the other room there with Vance.
May I see him?
Why, certainly.
Of course, you could.
Mr. Vance? Mr. Spottswoode is here.
Oh. Hello, Dad.
Hello, Jimmy.
[Philo] Good morning, Charles.
Good morning, Philo.
But, Dad, what are you doing here?
I came to be with you, Jimmy, while you're detained.
Oh, by all means.
We've just started a little game of poker here, Charles.
Would you like to join?
Come on, Dad, sit and take a hand.
Well, all right.
I'll sit in.
That'll go fine.
Suppose you take that chair, Charles.
Thank you.
Gentlemen, this is Mr. Spottswoode.
Mr. Mannix.
How'd you do, Mr. Mannix?
Dr. Lindquist.
Doctor.
And Mr. Cleaver.
- Mr. Cleaver.
- How'd you do?
Shall it be jackpots, gentlemen?
Why, yes, anything.
Yes, the missus and I usually play jackpot.
(cards rustling)
Cards?
[Louis] Three, Mr. Vance, please.
Thank you.
Cleaver?
[John] Two, please.
[Louis] So it's between you and me, Mr. Cleaver.
[John] Yes.
[Louis] Hmm. (Chuckles)
I'll bet a white one.
(chips tapping)
(chips tapping)
Oh, uh, so you're calling me?
[John] Yes.
[Louis] Well, hmm.
Just openers, pair of jacks.
Three aces.
[Louis] Oh!
So you called a one-chip bet with three aces?
(cards thudding)
(chips tapping)
Open.
[Charles] I'm out.
- Dealer?
- Passes.
[John] How many, Mr. Vance?
Two cards, please.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Mr. Mannix?
I think I'll play these.
I'll check the bet to you, Mr. Mannix.
(chips rattling)
Calling.
Nine, eight,
seven, six, five.
And they're all spades.
You bet on a sure thing, Mr. Mannix.
I open for one.
I'll stay.
Oh, let's make it a little more interesting.
(chips tapping)
10 more.
Well, that-that's me out.
[Dr. Lindquist] I'm out.
[Jimmy] And me.
I'll stay with you, Charles.
[Louis] Cards, gentlemen?
Three for me, please.
[Louis] One, two, three.
Mr. Spottswoode?
I have plenty.
[Louis] Mm.
(Dr. Lindquist coughs)
A white stack, Charles.
Two white stacks.
[Jimmy] Hey.
Up two chips, Charles.
Two? (Chuckles)
Oh, you want me to do the betting, eh?
All right.
I'm afraid I'm overcome by curiosity.
What have you?
(Charles chuckling)
Two deuces.
They're good.
They're...
They're what?
Well, why the philanthropy, Philo?
Well, I had ace high.
(Charles chuckling)
(chips rattling) (cards rustling)
Pardon me, Mr. Vance.
Could I speak to you a moment?
Excuse me, please.
[Sgt. Heath] We've traced the fingerprints,
and this is the bird that was in the closet.
He saw the Canary murdered.
Gentlemen,
here is the man who was in the Canary's clothes closet
and who witnessed her murder.
Hmm.
Well, I shouldn't like to be the man he saw.
[Louis] Hmm. (Chuckles)
Thank goodness he didn't see me through the keyhole.
So that man witnessed a murder?
Singularly unattractive countenance.
Well, if he knows, why doesn't he tell who did it?
Gentlemen, I've been instructed by the district attorney
to inform you that you're all free to go home.
Thank goodness for that.
I wonder what the wife will say?
Has anyone a fountain pen, please?
There's mine.
Oh, thank you, Jimmy.
[Louis] Bye.
Now, what I didn't tell you about this bird, Mr. Vance,
in front of the others, is that he phoned in
and said that he'd be in
the district attorney's office tomorrow
and spill the whole works.
He says that he saw the guy that croaked the Canary,
and he'll come in and tell us who it was.
Now, we haven't been able to locate him yet,
so I guess we just have to wait.
Well, Sergeant,
that takes the matter out of my hands.
Markham, there can be no doubt of it.
The same person who strangled the Canary strangled Skeel.
This new murder was done to cover up the first.
Skeel was obviously blackmailing the Canary's murderer.
He threatened to inform the police
of what he had seen through the keyhole of the closet.
And when the murderer learned yesterday at the poker game
that the police knew who had been in the closet,
he put Skeel out of the way at
the earliest possible moment.
I believe you're right, Vance.
Oh, Mack?
Did any of the suspects get away from your men last night?
We never lost sight of Lindquist, Mannix, and the girl.
But young Spottswoode and Cleaver gave us the slip.
That'll be all.
Okay, Chief.
Vance,
that leaves Jimmy and Cleaver.
Morning, Chief.
Good morning, Heath.
Boys.
Hello, Mr. Vance.
Good morning, Sergeant.
Well, Chief, everything's okay.
I've got the guilty man and I've got him right.
You've got him?
I hope to tell you I have.
Where is he?
[Sgt. Heath] All right, Mack, bring him in.
(door clunking)
Mr. Vance!
Jimmy.
This fool arrested me this morning at breakfast
for the murder.
Why, it's just like shooting fish in a cup, Chief.
I've got all the dope, and I've got it down pat.
Motive and everything.
Now, this dame, Alice, croaked the Canary,
jealous because she's stolen her fella.
The kid here bumped Skeel off to shut his mouth
and to protect the dame.
A lie!
That isn't all, Chief.
I've got the evidence.
And it's not psychology, Mr. Vance.
Mr. Vance, he lies.
He hasn't any evidence. He couldn't have.
Just a minute, Jimmy.
Sergeant, what is your theory?
Well, I don't go on theory.
I use cold facts, Mr. Vance.
Now, you wait a minute.
Did you ever see that pen?
Yes. It's mine.
You bet your life it's yours.
Take a look at that pen, Mr. Vance.
Chief?
Well?
Now, listen to this:
This morning, I found that pen on the floor there
by the table where Skeel was murdered,
and the kid, here, admits that it's his.
Well, young man, what have you to say?
Yes, I killed them.
Both of them.
[Sgt. Heath] I guess that does it, Chief.
We've got him in a sack.
Now, this dame, Alice-
Wait a minute!
You've got what you wanted, now take me out.
Take him away, Mack.
Well, I'll see you later at the office, Chief.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] All right, Heath.
Sorry, Mr. Vance.
Well, Vance, I guess that closed the case.
No, Markham, it doesn't.
What do you mean?
I mean, that the boy is not guilty.
Well, that's nonsense.
Not nonsense, Markham, because I know who is guilty.
Oh, come now, Vance, that's-
I tell you, Markham, I know.
And inside of one hour, you'll know, too.
I'm going to telephone at once to the real murderer
and have him come to the Canary's apartment.
And I want you to be there.
But the boy has confessed everything!
Markham, if you don't meet me there,
you'll be the laughingstock of New York in 24 hours
because I'll have a confession of the real murderer.
Well, all right, Vance,
if you want it that way,
I'll be there.
[Operator] Number, please.
Bayview, 2121.
[Operator] Bayview, 2121?
Yes, please.
(phone line taps)
This is Philo Vance.
I want to speak with-
[Man On Phone] Oh, hello, Philo, how are you?
I didn't recognize your voice.
I have something of extreme importance to tell you.
Jimmy has just been arrested.
He has confessed to the murder
of both the Canary and Skeel.
Do you understand?
[Man On Phone] Yes, I understand, Philo.
Jimmy is not guilty. I'm the man you want.
How soon will you meet me at the Canary's apartment?
[Man On Phone] it'll take me almost an hour
to get in from the country, but I'll be there.
Good.
(phone line taps)
(phone handset clunks)
(car engine whirring)
(train horn blaring)
(vehicles crashing)
It's been over an hour now, Vance.
Now, don't be impatient, Markham.
He'll be here.
Who is it you're expecting?
You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
And I must admit that without his confession,
I haven't a shred of real proof to offer you.
(phone ringing)
Hello?
Yes.
This is Mr. Vance speaking.
What?
Yes.
All right.
What is it, Vance?
Spottswoode has just been killed in a motor accident.
Spottswoode killed?
My sympathies, old man.
I know what great friends you were.
It's worse than you realize, Markham.
It was Spottswoode who killed both the Canary and Skeel.
Spottswoode?
I've known it ever since the poker game.
But how could you know?
Sit down, Markham.
It wasn't really so difficult.
Remember, the man who committed this particular crime
must have had certain definite qualities.
A mind capable of working out a well-planned
and brilliant course of action.
Willing to take a desperate chance and see it through.
Now, consider the men in the game.
Jimmy, I ruled out at the start.
But I've known him as a boy,
and his youth and impulsiveness
were hardly consistent with such a...
Such an obviously premeditated murder.
Lindquist was far too excitable and erratic
to have plotted such a carefully calculated crime.
Cleaver, much too cautious,
and entirely lacking in the necessary boldness.
Mannix, timid and unwilling to take any risk,
except upon an absolutely sure thing.
The only man at the table with enough imagination
to plan such a crime
and with sufficient self-confidence
and daring to carry it through was Spottswoode.
When he held a pair of deuces, refused to draw to them,
and bet every chip he had on the chance of bluffing me out,
the realization suddenly dawned upon me
that he was the murderer.
For he was the one man of them all
psychologically fitted for such an act.
But, um, how about finding Jimmy's pen
in the Skeel apartment?
I borrowed Jimmy's fountain pen after the poker game.
My hypothesis is that, in the confusion,
Spottswoode put the pen into his own pocket,
and that Jimmy saw him do it.
That is why Jimmy made his confession,
to shield his father.
Yes, but against all that theory, Vance,
we have certain definite facts.
Now, for instance, Spottswoode left the Canary's apartment
while she was still alive.
He talked to her through that door.
The hall boy, looking through the keyhole,
saw the Canary lying on this sofa smoking a cigarette.
Spottswoode then went away
and spent the rest of the evening with you.
True.
And yet I know he committed the murder.
And I've got to find out how he did it.
I'm afraid you will, Vance, so that Jimmy can go free.
Spottswoode, himself, was coming here
to tell how it was done in order to free Jimmy.
And now he's dead.
I've got to solve it.
(clock bell chiming)
I think I have the whole thing.
Now, follow me closely.
The Canary was lying there.
Spottswoode, let us say, was standing here,
making a final plea for his boy.
Which met with an absolute refusal.
He walked around to the head of the sofa.
Suddenly, he clapped his hand over her mouth
and, with his other hand, caught her necklace,
and before she had a chance to cry out, he strangled her.
He then proceeded to set the stage
to make it appear that the crime had been committed
with robbery as a motive.
He stripped her jewels from her
and placed them in his pocket.
Then
he took a cigarette from that box and lit it.
He laid her hand here,
placed the cigarette between her fingers
so that in case anyone
should look through the keyhole of that door there,
it would appear as if she were lying here smoking.
He then overturned the entire apartment
to make it look as if a burglar had ransacked the place.
Now, just step over here, Markham.
He came to this closet door, but he couldn't open it.
Skeel had locked himself in,
though Spottswoode didn't know that.
And Skeel, through the keyhole,
saw everything that Spottswoode did.
That accounts for the orderly condition of this one closet
when everything else in the apartment was ransacked.
And that, Markham, was the technique of the crime itself.
But that doesn't account for the fact that-
Just a minute.
I haven't quite finished.
I want you to go out into the hall and stand at the desk
where Spottswoode stood when he ordered his cab.
Very well.
(woman screaming)
[Woman On Record] Something startled me,
Mr. Spottswoode,
but I'm all right now.
Yes, quite sure.
Run along home, and come back in the morning.
[Philo] You understand now?
This record was Spottswoode's alibi.
Undoubtedly, the reason he returned here the next morning
was to get it back.
But he was prevented by the arrival of the officer
who entered the apartment with him.
The Canary was dead
when the scream issued from the apartment that night.
She was dead when she apparently spoke to Spottswoode
through the door.
But what clue led you to the phonograph record?
It was this magazine.
That is hardly a magazine the Canary would have read,
so I concluded that someone else must have brought it here.
Then, in running through the pages,
I happened to notice this.
Look closely.
You see it?
Why, yes, the-the imprint of a large circle.
And on the opposite page?
Well, the same thing.
Precisely.
As if a disc had been pressed between the two pages.
That brought to my mind the thought of a phonograph record.
And suddenly, the whole plot became clear to me.
It was the only way that Spottswoode
could have committed the murder
and have produced a voice in the apartment
after the Canary's death.
I can't understand how he could have reproduced
the Canary's voice.
It wasn't the Canary's voice, Markham.
Spottswoode made that record himself.
Probably it was his own voice in falsetto.
And, remember, it was only necessary to fool the house boy
and through a closed door.
Yes. I can see it all now.
He played the game shrewdly and boldly.
It was Jimmy's whole life's happiness that was at stake,
and Spottswoode risked his own life for his boy.
Goodbye, Mr. Vance.
You'll never know how grateful we are.
Goodbye, my dear.
I wish you great happiness.
Oh, thank you.
Goodbye, Jimmy.
Your happiness will come.
Thank you, Mr. Vance.
I...
I can't say any more just now.
Well, Mr. Vance.
Well, Sergeant.
I guess we put it over again.
Right you are, Sergeant.
Many thanks.
Well, I'll be seeing you later.
Goodbye.
Goodbye, Sergeant.
(bright orchestral music)
(bright orchestral music)
(bells chiming)
(tense orchestral music)
(gentle thoughtful orchestral music)
(gentle thoughtful orchestral music continues)
(lively upbeat music)
(light gentle music)
Tell me, Vance, what happened backstage?
Were you able to see the Canary?
No luck, Charles.
She's about as hard to get at in her dressing room
as she is in that swing.
(Charles chuckles)
(audience applauding)
If you want an idea of what I ran into back there,
let me point out a few of her admirers.
(audience applauding)
(audience applauding)
You see the man standing in the box opposite?
Yeah.
(audience applauding)
That's Dr. Lindquist.
Oh.
He was outside her dressing room just now,
along with these other two.
I understand that the Canary
has her claws in all three of them.
Are they rich?
Mm, naturally.
Then what does she want with my son?
The allowance I give Jimmy is hardly tempting.
Ah, my dear Charles,
our little feathered friend in the swing there
has social ambitions.
She wants to be Mrs. Jimmy Spottswoode.
No, impossible.
I'd do anything in my power to prevent that,
even if Jimmy still cared for her.
And I still believe that she'll
listen to dollars and cents.
Hm, I wouldn't be too sure of that, Charles.
As you know, I've more or less made a hobby of crime
and the criminal.
That girl is no ordinary blackmailer.
I'm firmly convinced
that she'll stop at nothing to marry Jimmy.
But Jimmy won't have her.
I tell you, he's really come to his senses.
Another girl?
Yes.
Well, you know her: Alice.
Oh, yes, of course.
A very nice girl, too.
Yes, she is.
Vance, I'm afraid I'll have to use my own judgment
in this matter.
I'm going to see this Canary at her apartment
as soon as possible.
Very well, Charles.
But act quickly.
Oh, I know you'll smile,
but, you know, I have a strange premonition
that the Canary is headed for disaster.
(audience applauding)
(climatic upbeat orchestral music)
Evening, Mr. Spottswoode.
Hello, there.
Shall I announce you to Miss O'Dell?
No, don't bother, that's perfectly all right.
Very well.
Jimmy!
[Jimmy] Alice!
Jimmy, you were going to see the Canary again.
No, I wasn't, dear.
In fact, I just started to put this note under her door
to tell her so.
Oh, Jimmy, I'm afraid of her.
Oh, she's clever and cruel and unscrupulous.
She'll hurt us again, I know she will.
No, dear, she can't hurt us now.
I say, boy, will you announce my...
Uh, never mind.
Yes, sir.
[Charles] Hello, Jimmy.
Why, hello, Dad.
Good evening, Alice.
Good evening, Mr. Spottswoode.
You know, I'm delighted that you
and Jimmy have made it up again.
Thank you.
You know, I'm going to try to show you
that all showgirls aren't like, well-
Like, the Canary, eh?
Yes.
Yes, I want to talk to her.
Do you suppose she's home yet?
I suppose so.
You know, Dad, you're-you're a regular guy
for helping me out of this thing.
You know, if...
if the Canary ever came between Alice and me again,
I don't know what I'd do.
I don't know what I'd do.
It's all right, Jimmy.
I'll do everything I can.
Shall I go along with you?
No, I can handle this better alone.
I'll send in my name now.
(phone ringing)
[Hall Boy] Mr.- Mr. Spottswoode calling.
Send him in, please.
Good evening, Miss O'Dell.
Good evening.
Shall we go over here?
Why, yes.
Will you sit down?
Thank you.
Well, I don't think we need waste any time, Miss O'Dell.
You know why I'm here.
How much?
Nothing doing, Mr. Spottswoode.
I've decided to marry Jimmy.
I'm afraid that marriage
is quite out of the question, Miss O'Dell.
[Margaret] Oh, you're sure about that, are you?
I'm positive.
Well, how would you like me to tell the world
about Jimmy's embezzling from your bank?
What?
[Margaret] You heard me.
You know Jimmy has a weakness for writing letters,
and I have a weakness for using them.
If Jimmy did write you a letter, you'll tear it up,
now, before I leave here.
Sure, go ahead.
Tear it up yourself.
My memory's still perfect.
Oh, yes. Yes, I see.
Yes.
Very well. You win.
Now, what do you really want?
[Margaret] I've told you what I want.
I want to be Mrs. James Spottswoode, and that's that!
Oh, haven't you any heart?
Won't you give him up, Miss O'Dell?
For the sake of his happiness,
for the sake of the girl whom he really loves, give him up.
[Margaret] Now, what do you want me to do?
Burst out cryin'?
Listen, Mr. Spottswoode, I know all about Jimmy and Alice,
and if he marries her,
I'll tell every newspaper in this country
that he's a dirty thief.
Oh, no, you wouldn't dare do that.
That's blackmail.
[Margaret] Sure, it is!
Call it anything you like!
But get this into your head
that that's what I'm going to do!
Well, that remains to be seen.
Goodnight.
(phone ringing)
[Margaret] Mr. Cleaver, please.
This is Mr. Cleaver speaking.
[Margaret] Not the Mr. Cleaver, the great reformer?
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Yes.
[Margaret] Well, this is your favorite weakness.
Margaret!
[Margaret] Don't get nervous, baby.
I've got some news for you.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Good news?
[Margaret] Yes, darling.
I'm going to marry young Spottswoode.
Well, well, well.
May I send you my heartiest congratulations?
[Margaret] You bet you can.
But send them from Tiffany's.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] What's that?
You heard me.
And send me one of those fancy autographs of yours
on a nice fat check.
I'm very sorry but I'm afraid I shall have to refuse.
[Margaret] Oh, be yourself.
Big reformers who lead double lives can't refuse.
Now, look here, I'll see you dead first!
[Margaret] Listen,
you be here after the theater with the dough and like it.
The little rat! (Phone handset slams)
(phone ringing)
May I speak to Mr. Louis Mannix, please?
[Louis] Quiet, quiet. My wife.
[Margaret] Don't get excited.
I just thought you'd like to know
I've sold the body down the river.
I'm gonna marry young Spottswoode.
(laughing) Splendid.
[Margaret] Yes, darling.
And I've decided that you're the best man.
[Louis] Best man?
Yeah, the best man I know of to kick in
with a nice, handsome present in cash.
[Louis] Now, see here, you know I can't afford-
What you mean is, you can't afford to let the ball
and chain know what a bighearted Santy Clause you've been.
Now, look here. I've told you what I'd do to you
if you ever got to the wife.
Forget that bunk,
and be on my front porch after the show with that jack,
or I'll get to your wife, all right.
(phone ringing)
It's Dr. Lindquist speaking.
Oh, yes, Dr. Lindquist.
How would you like to do me a little favor?
Why, certainly, Margaret.
I'd do anything for you, you know.
How'd you like to go jump in the lake?
Oh, Margaret, don't joke with me.
I'm not in the mood for it.
Ah, get wise to yourself.
I'm through with you.
You give me the willies!
I warn you, Margaret, I'm desperate.
If I can't have you, no other
man shall ever have you alive!
(mirror clatters)
[Margaret] Tony?
In person, baby.
How's my little squaw?
[Margaret] I thought you were still in jail.
Well, I got tired of the big house, Mrs. Skeel,
so I dropped in to see my little wife.
[Margaret] I'm not your wife.
How come?
[Margaret] I divorced you six months ago.
Yeah?
Listen, baby, a little thing like a divorce
don't mean anything to me.
I heard you taking those suckers down over the phone.
And I'm in and in on the works, 50/50.
[Margaret] You big crook!
You're not in on this one!
Don't, you big heel!
(hand slaps)
(Margaret sobs)
Hey, I ought to bump you off.
[Margaret] You do and you'll swing for it.
Yeah? Well, maybe it'd be worth it.
Now, get this:
I'm in on this racket.
I'll be back for my cut.
[Margaret] Yeah? Try and get it.
Say, baby, don't bother changing the box on this door.
The lock I can't pick is still in Yale.
(door clunking)
(bell chimes)
Miss O'Dell?
May I see you for a few moments, please?
[Margaret] it won't get you anything, but come ahead.
Thank you.
I have something to say to you, Miss O'Dell,
which I believe will make you change your mind about Jimmy.
[Paper Boy] Paper, mister?
Morning paper?
No, no.
No.
[Paper Boy] Thanks, mister.
Very well, Miss O'Dell.
That suits me perfectly.
Think it over tonight,
and I'll come for your answer in the morning.
Goodnight.
Boy, would you call me a taxi, please?
Yes, sir.
(Margaret screaming)
What's that?
(stammers) Miss O'Dell!
(knocking on door)
Miss O'Dell?
What's wrong?
[Margaret] Something startled me, Mr. Spottswoode,
but I'm all right now.
Are you sure you're all right?
[Margaret] Yes, quite sure.
Run along home and come back in the morning.
Very well, then.
I'll see you in the morning.
Goodnight.
Steinmetz Club.
[Driver] Yes, sir.
(hall boy snoring)
(servant sneezes)
Say, fella.
(stammering) What's the big idea, you coming in here late?
Who? Me late?
Yeah, you late.
I've been here for an hour.
I don't want that stuff.
- Well, I-
- I-I-beg your pardon.
Mr. Spottswoode, calling on Miss O'Dell, by appointment.
She don't answer.
Has she gone out, do you think?
I've been on all night.
And you haven't seen her go out?
No, sir.
That's funny.
Do you suppose she can be ill?
Well, we may go and knock.
Yes, yes, let's do that.
(knocking on door)
Miss O'Dell?
Miss O'Dell?
Are you ill?
[Hall Boy] No! (Panting)
No!
- What's the matter?
[Hall Boy] (stammering) Somethin' has happened!
Well, go get your passkey.
Yes, yes.
Say, fella, get running, get a cop.
And, say, get a (stammering) big one, too!
You better let me have that.
(key rattling)
What's the matter here?
Something's happened in there, officer.
Better take that key and go in.
(key rattling)
She's dead.
(phone dialer whirring)
Police headquarters, please.
(phone ringing)
Patrolman Cassidy speaking.
There's a woman dead at 184 West 71st Street.
It looks like murder.
Okay, Cassidy.
She's been dead since midnight, Sergeant.
Strangled to death.
That long, huh?
Sergeant, the district attorney just pulled up,
and he's coming right in.
[Sgt. Heath] That's great.
He's got that Mr. Philo Vance with him.
Well, that'll be just dandy.
Sherlock Holmes on the job again, huh?
Heads up, boys.
Good morning, Sergeant.
Good morning, Mr. Markham.
Well, hello, Mr. Vance.
How are you, Sergeant?
Fine. Haven't seen you since the Greene murder case.
Quite right.
Oh, good morning, Mr. Spottswoode.
[Charles] Good morning, Mr. Markham.
Well, Sergeant, what's it look like?
Well, Chief, just another clear case of robbery,
all I can make out of it.
Nasty business, Charles, huh?
Oh, terrible.
As you know, I was here last night
to make my final appeal to her.
For Jimmy.
And when I came back this morning for her answer,
this had happened.
Yes.
They'll probably want to keep you here
for a few moments, Charles.
Yes, I suppose, they will.
And by the way, I explained to the district attorney
on the way down about Jimmy and the girl here.
Oh, that's good.
I'm glad you did that, Philo.
You know, if I can tell you anything that will help...
Well, perhaps later, Charles.
Meanwhile, I'll have a bit of a look about.
I don't think there's anything
worth you looking at, Mr. Vance.
It's a clear case, robbery.
She put up a battle, and they wrecked the joint.
I see.
As simple as that, huh?
That's it.
Well, just the same, Sergeant, if you don't mind,
I think I'll have just one little look.
Surely, Mr. Vance, go right ahead.
Make yourself perfectly at home.
Thank you, Sergeant.
(stammering) Excuse me, Mr. Policeman,
when do we sleep?
[Sgt. Heath] Now, you get this, sonny boy,
you'll go for a long sleep
unless you button up that big trap of yours.
- Yes, sir.
- Oh, Sergeant?
[Sgt. Heath] Yes, Chief.
[Philo] Any fingerprints?
[Sgt. Heath] Well, so far, no.
I'll tell you, this job was done by an expert.
It's perfect.
Yes, that's just the trouble.
[Sgt. Heath] What's that?
It's too perfect.
Well, that's a little over my head, Mr. Vance.
Just what do you mean by "too perfect"?
Well, Sergeant, what usually happens
when a heavy lamp like that is knocked off a table?
Well, I don't know, but I'll bite.
What does happen?
It usually smashes, doesn't it?
It might.
Well, look at that one.
Well, what about it?
Well, simply that that lamp was placed there
to give the effect of a struggle.
Hm, maybe.
Let me see, Sergeant.
It does look a little obvious, doesn't it, Vance?
I should say so.
Hey, boy, what happened here last night
after you heard Miss O'Dell scream,
and you and Mr. Spottswoode ran down the hall to her door?
Why, she-she said she was all right.
And I called Mr. Spottswoode a taxicab.
And you've got a way with it?
Yes, sir.
(chuckles) That's all right.
What time was this?
It's on the call sheet that I gave you, about...
(hall boy stuttering)
Never mind, I-I can read it.
"12:10."
Now, Mr. Spottswoode,
where did you go last evening after you left here?
I went directly to the Steinmetz Club.
That's right, Sergeant.
I met Mr. Spottswoode at the club shortly after 12:00.
We played poker until almost
daylight, I believe, wasn't it?
It must have been.
I know it was long after 4:00.
Oh, yeah, you mentioned that coming down here, Vance.
Right.
That'll be all for the present, Mr. Spottswoode.
Thank you, Markham.
But if you do want me later on, Mr. Vance has my number.
- Quite right.
- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.
- Goodbye, Charles.
I'll phone you.
Go right ahead, boys.
Joe. (Speaking faintly)
Oh, Sergeant,
would you step over here for a moment, please?
All right, Mr. Vance, what is it now?
Do you observe anything peculiar here?
Why, surely.
The key is on the inside.
Excellent, Sergeant.
Don't you think we might go
over that knob for fingerprints?
Well, now, uh, I...
Oh, I get you, Mr. Vance.
The murderer locked himself in this closet.
When Spottswoode left, he came out and croaked the Canary.
No, I hardly think so, Sergeant.
If you will observe,
this is the one place in the entire apartment
that hasn't been disturbed.
Now, what does that signify?
That and the fact of the key being found on the inside?
Just as I told you.
The murderer was in this closet
and came out when Spottswoode left.
Hm, I don't think you quite get my point, Sergeant.
If the murderer had been in here,
he would have upset this closet,
as he did the rest of the apartment, wouldn't he?
Well, yes. I guess he would.
Precisely.
Gentlemen, it was someone else who was in that closet
while the apartment was being ransacked.
And that someone witnessed the murder.
Through the keyhole?
Splendid, Sergeant.
And if you'll find who was in that closet,
I think you'll learn from him, or her,
who it was that killed the Canary.
Sergeant, get the fingerprints, will you?
Oh, Joe.
Oh, Sergeant, you might check up on the other apartments.
Mr. Vance and I are going outside.
You, come here.
(stammering) Yes, sir.
Who lives in that apartment there?
(stammering) Miss Alice LaFosse.
Isn't she the dame that had the battle
with the Canary the other night, over young Spottswoode?
(hall boy stuttering)
All right, all right.
Impossible to get in here.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] I'd say so.
Hmm.
Well, what's this?
Mm.
That's odd. May prove very interesting.
What do you think?
I see, Miss LaFosse.
I see.
But you and the Canary had a fight
over young Spottswoode, didn't you?
Why, yes, we did have a fight.
You see, she took Jimmy away from me
and got him into trouble.
But that's all over now.
Jimmy and I made it up just the day before yesterday.
You didn't see young Spottswoode last night, did you?
Why, yes.
He brought me home from the theater.
Ah-ha!
So he was hanging around here last night, was he?
Yes, but he was with me until after one o'clock.
Now, wait a minute, lady.
Wait a minute.
You save your alibis till we get you down to headquarters.
Go slip on your things.
Why, look, you don't think that-
Put 'em on!
Oh, Mr. Vance, I'm frightened.
Now, don't you be worried, Alice.
Just you do as the sergeant says.
All right.
(door clunking)
You know, I'm beginning to question
this robbery theory, Mr. Vance.
You and I were right.
Hmm?
Oh, yes.
Why, I can see plainly that this murder
is all mixed up in a love pact.
[Philo] Hm!
You know, Chief, I think we better round up
this young Spottswoode and give him the works.
What do you say?
Quite right, Sergeant.
Markham, I'd like you to add a few names to that list,
if you don't mind?
The men I mentioned on the way up here:
A Dr. Ambrose Lindquist,
John Cleaver, and Louis Mannix.
Well, young man, what do you know about
what happened at the Canary's apartment last night?
Nothing.
Look here, sir, that has nothing to do with Alice.
Uh, I mean, Miss LaFosse.
The papers say the Canary was murdered before midnight
and, I tell you, we were together the whole time.
It isn't fair to hold her.
You haven't the right.
Now, Jimmy, don't get worked up.
Everything's going to be all right.
Why not interview the others first, Markham?
Very well.
Gordon, take Mr. Spottswoode out in the other room
and hold him there.
I'll talk to you later, young man.
(door clunking)
There you are.
Well, who's next on the list?
Mannix.
I'd like to make a bit of an experiment, Markham.
Have you a pad and pencil there?
Yes.
There you are.
You have that newspaper handy?
Yes, right here.
- All ready?
- All right.
(door clunking)
Morning, Mr. Vance.
Good morning.
Mr. Markham.
- Good morning.
Will you please take a seat?
Thank you.
Ooh. (Chuckles)
Sorry.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Mr. Mannix,
there are a few questions I'd like to ask you.
Questions?
What about?
I don't know anything about this.
It's a great shock to me.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] What was a great shock to you?
Well, I...
I thought perhaps you were going
to ask me about the Canary.
(chuckles) Exactly.
You read my thoughts, Mr. Mannix.
Did you ever see that necklace before?
Why-Why, yes.
Fact is, I gave that to the Canary.
Little token of esteem.
Nice girl, the Canary.
I'd met her once or twice.
(laughs) A casual acquaintance.
Rather an expensive gift
to give to a casual acquaintance, isn't it?
Do you know that the Canary
was strangled with that necklace?
(necklace clatters)
Most remarkable.
Unfortunate, I should say.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Where were you last night,
between 11:00 and one o'clock?
Between 11:00 and 1:00?
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Yes.
Let me see.
Why, I was home.
I went to bed about 10 o'clock.
Uh, tired out, (chuckles) you understand.
Pardon me, Mr. Mannix.
Any comment to make, Mr. Mannix?
Odd habit of mine, drawing triangles.
Now, Mr. Mannix,
if you were in your bed last night at 10 o'clock,
how did you manage to drop that newspaper
just outside the Canary's apartment?
That edition isn't on the streets until 11:00.
Well, you've caught me.
I'll tell the truth.
It's always best to tell the truth,
especially when there's no reason to lie.
It was like this:
The Canary called my home at dinnertime last night.
Most embarrassing. (Chuckles)
Mrs. Mannix was with me.
I had omitted to tell my wife about the Canary.
She wouldn't have understood. (Chuckles)
The Canary told me that she was going to be married
and wanted to see me.
Said that I should come to her apartment at 11 o'clock.
Well, I...
(chuckles) I couldn't argue over the phone.
(chuckles) The missus was listening.
So I said all right.
So at 11 o'clock, I went to the Canary's apartment.
I entered the hall by a side door.
I went directly to her apartment.
I was about to enter when I heard voices inside.
I listened.
There was a man in there, and he was arguing.
(chuckling) Of course, well, that was no place for me,
so I returned home without seeing the Canary
or entering her apartment.
Well, uh, that'll be all the questioning
for the present, Mr. Mannix,
but I'll have to ask you to wait in the outer office.
I may want to speak to you later on.
Oh, well, won't you let me go home?
I'll get in an awful mess with my wife.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] I'm sorry, you'll have to wait.
Oh, Mr. Markham, I wouldn't run away.
Uh, Melfield.
That'll be all.
Mr. Markham?
You've gotta help me square this with my wife.
(door clunking)
We will now have, uh, Mr. Cleaver.
Good morning, Mr. Cleaver.
Good morning, Mr. Markham.
Can I do anything for you?
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Will you please have a seat?
Mind if I smoke a cigar?
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Oh, please do.
Uh, Mr. Cleaver, do you mind if I ask you some questions?
(match striking)
Why, of course, if I can be of any help.
Where were you last night between 11:00 and 1 o'clock?
Motoring up the Hudson.
In the moonlight.
Alone. (Blows)
Though, I don't see what that has to do
with the district attorney's office.
Well, only this, Mr. Cleaver:
if you were indulging in the nocturnal beauties of nature
along the Hudson last evening,
how did it happen that this cigar band,
bearing your initials,
was found just outside the Canary's window
at an early hour this morning?
Well, if I was passing the Canary's apartment,
you can't twist that into a crime.
[Philo] Oh, then you did pass her apartment?
Why, yes, I...
I've nothing to hide.
It was about dinnertime last night.
The Canary phoned to me.
Oh, of course, my-my acquaintance with her
was wholly in my line as social reformer.
I'd hoped that she was going to leave her immoral life
and-and marry and settle down, be a good woman.
And, uh, you kept the appointment?
Yes.
Yes, and no.
I was a little late.
I arrived at her apartment about a quarter to 12:00,
or thereabouts.
I waited for a minute outside her window to light a cigar.
Then I glanced down to the side entrance to the building,
and who should I chance to see
but Dr. Lindquist.
He was behaving in a very peculiar manner.
Seemed to me very queer.
Very mysterious.
I didn't like it.
So I made up my mind not to see the Canary again.
And I turned, walked back home.
Now, that's all I can tell you.
I'm a busy man and I hope you'll excuse me.
I'm very sorry, Mr. Cleaver,
but I'll have to ask you to wait in the outer office.
I might want to question you again.
You mark my words, Markham,
you'll be sorry for this.
(chuckling) Well, I'll take my chances, Mr. Cleaver.
Charming fellow, Cleaver.
Yeah, rather.
By the way, Vance I didn't see you pick up this cigar band
in front of the Canary's apartment this morning.
I didn't.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Where did you get it?
From your waste basket.
Wastebasket?
Cleaver dropped it there when he entered.
I took a chance on his not remembering that.
It seemed to work.
(chuckles) Well, I'll be...
Hmm.
Very good.
Dr. Lindquist.
[Dr. Lindquist] Let me go.
Come on, Doctor.
Take your hands off me!
We caught Dr. Lindquist just as he was leaving town.
That's a lie.
I was on my way to a patient.
Would you please sit down, Doctor?
I'd like to ask you a few questions.
Doctor, where were you last night between 11:00
and one o'clock?
None of your business.
It is some of my business.
You were seen coming out
of the Canary's apartment at midnight.
Why you!
Not so fast, Doctor.
Calm yourself, Doctor.
I'm sorry.
I lost my temper.
I'm under a terrible strain.
I loved the Canary dearly
and I'm terribly upset.
Do you know that the Canary
was strangled with that necklace?
(necklace rattles)
Good God.
You...
You don't accuse me?
Now, Dr. Lindquist,
there's really no need for you to be excited.
Now, Mr. Markham here
is merely trying to find out what you know.
I know? Know?
I know nothing.
- One moment, Doctor.
Markham, don't you think that we might postpone
the interview with Dr. Lindquist for a while?
Why, what...
Very well.
That'll be all for the present, Doctor.
I'd like to have you remain in the outer office.
Come on, Doctor.
(door clunking)
[Dist. Atty. Markham] What was the idea, Vance?
We had him where he was about to tell us everything.
Well, on the contrary, Markham.
In his present extremely excited condition,
I very much doubt if he would have told us anything.
I do think, however, that if we give him a chance
to cool off a bit, he's very likely to tell us the truth.
Well, perhaps you're right.
Good morning, Sergeant.
How are you, Sergeant?
Good morning, Chief.
Hello, Mr. Vance.
(package thuds)
Take a slant at those.
There's the Canary's jewels.
They were found in an ash can
about a block from her apartment this morning.
I guess that kind of disproves the robbery theory.
We were right, Mr. Vance.
[Philo] Hmm?
I say, we were right.
Oh.
Oh, yes.
Yes, apparently we were, Sergeant.
[Sgt. Heath] Now it's up to us to find another motive.
Yes, quite right, Sergeant.
You know, Markham, I've been
thinking this over all morning.
And I believe that I can come pretty close
to the psychology of the man who committed this murder.
I believe that I can pick him out
from that list of suspects, if he's among them.
However, it will require a bit of an experiment.
What is in your mind?
Well, I'd like to use that conference room of yours there
for a friendly little game of poker with your suspects.
Well, now, that's a cute idea.
Now, just what is your idea, Vance?
Well, just this, Markham:
A man's true nature always comes out in a game of poker.
Now, I know the type and the temperament
of the man who murdered the Canary.
And in a game of poker,
I believe that I can come pretty close
to putting my finger on him.
That's a new way of catching crooks. (Laughing)
Leave it, Sergeant, will you please?
Well, go ahead, Vance.
The experiment can do no harm.
Quite right.
Now, I'd like to have the sergeant's help.
Well, I'd be very glad to help you, Mr. Vance,
as long as you don't try to hang the murder on me.
Sergeant, will you take Mr. Vance's orders, please?
Okay, Chief.
Will you get me a deck of cards
and have some poker chips handy just outside there?
That's easy.
Then bring in the suspects and impress upon them
that they may be detained here for quite a while,
possibly two or even three hours.
Well, that's okay, Mr. Vance,
but how are you gonna get these suspects
into this poker game without it appearing phony to them?
Well, Sergeant, I rather think
that the power of suggestion will take care of that.
Oh, power of suggestion.
Exactly.
Now, Sergeant, look in from time to time.
And when I pull my handkerchief from my pocket, like so,
break up the game by telling them
that they're all free to go home.
Understand?
I get you.
But when you release them, I'll have my boys tail 'em.
[Philo] Very good, Sergeant.
And, Mr. Vance,
here's to the power of suggestion. (Laughing)
Jimmy.
Now, gentlemen, you're liable to be here
for two or three hours.
Perhaps longer.
[Louis] That's outrageous.
Just make yourselves at home.
You know, this is going to get me
in an awful mess with my wife.
That is of no interest to me.
I'm sorry.
What's the idea, Mr. Vance?
Well, what are they gonna do with Alice?
[Philo] Now, Jimmy, don't you worry.
Nothing's going to happen to Alice.
Say, Mr. Vance, you know, this is gonna get me
in an awful mess with my wife.
Martha's a...
My wife's a wonderful woman and all that,
but sometimes, she just doesn't understand me.
The last time I was a little indiscreet,
it cost me a fur coat.
(chuckling) I hate to think what this is gonna cost.
Don't you think if you put...
Oh, (chuckles) beg your pardon, I'm sorry.
Mr. Vance, you haven't got an
extra pack of cards, have you?
I'm sorry, Mr. Mannix, but you're welcome to these.
Oh, no. No, no, thanks just the same. (Chuckles)
I, uh...
I wish we could play a little cards.
Say, that's a good idea!
How about poker?
[Philo] I'm agreeable.
What about the others?
Dr. Lindquist?
Anything to pass the time.
Mr. Cleaver?
Well, uh, as a rule, it's against my principles.
But I suppose on an occasion like this one,
one can relax a little.
Just draw up a chair, gentlemen.
Thank you.
Sergeant, how about some poker chips?
[Sgt. Heath] Surely.
(door clunking)
- Chief?
- Yes?
Mr. Spottswoode is here.
Have him in.
[Joe] Come in, Mr. Spottswoode.
Good morning, Mr. Spottswoode.
Good morning, Markham. Good morning
I say, Markham, what are you holding Jimmy for?
Surely, you're not accusing him?
No, no, of course not!
We're simply trying to find out what he knows, that's all.
Oh, yes, yes.
Where is he now?
Why, in the other room there with Vance.
May I see him?
Why, certainly.
Of course, you could.
Mr. Vance? Mr. Spottswoode is here.
Oh. Hello, Dad.
Hello, Jimmy.
[Philo] Good morning, Charles.
Good morning, Philo.
But, Dad, what are you doing here?
I came to be with you, Jimmy, while you're detained.
Oh, by all means.
We've just started a little game of poker here, Charles.
Would you like to join?
Come on, Dad, sit and take a hand.
Well, all right.
I'll sit in.
That'll go fine.
Suppose you take that chair, Charles.
Thank you.
Gentlemen, this is Mr. Spottswoode.
Mr. Mannix.
How'd you do, Mr. Mannix?
Dr. Lindquist.
Doctor.
And Mr. Cleaver.
- Mr. Cleaver.
- How'd you do?
Shall it be jackpots, gentlemen?
Why, yes, anything.
Yes, the missus and I usually play jackpot.
(cards rustling)
Cards?
[Louis] Three, Mr. Vance, please.
Thank you.
Cleaver?
[John] Two, please.
[Louis] So it's between you and me, Mr. Cleaver.
[John] Yes.
[Louis] Hmm. (Chuckles)
I'll bet a white one.
(chips tapping)
(chips tapping)
Oh, uh, so you're calling me?
[John] Yes.
[Louis] Well, hmm.
Just openers, pair of jacks.
Three aces.
[Louis] Oh!
So you called a one-chip bet with three aces?
(cards thudding)
(chips tapping)
Open.
[Charles] I'm out.
- Dealer?
- Passes.
[John] How many, Mr. Vance?
Two cards, please.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] Mr. Mannix?
I think I'll play these.
I'll check the bet to you, Mr. Mannix.
(chips rattling)
Calling.
Nine, eight,
seven, six, five.
And they're all spades.
You bet on a sure thing, Mr. Mannix.
I open for one.
I'll stay.
Oh, let's make it a little more interesting.
(chips tapping)
10 more.
Well, that-that's me out.
[Dr. Lindquist] I'm out.
[Jimmy] And me.
I'll stay with you, Charles.
[Louis] Cards, gentlemen?
Three for me, please.
[Louis] One, two, three.
Mr. Spottswoode?
I have plenty.
[Louis] Mm.
(Dr. Lindquist coughs)
A white stack, Charles.
Two white stacks.
[Jimmy] Hey.
Up two chips, Charles.
Two? (Chuckles)
Oh, you want me to do the betting, eh?
All right.
I'm afraid I'm overcome by curiosity.
What have you?
(Charles chuckling)
Two deuces.
They're good.
They're...
They're what?
Well, why the philanthropy, Philo?
Well, I had ace high.
(Charles chuckling)
(chips rattling) (cards rustling)
Pardon me, Mr. Vance.
Could I speak to you a moment?
Excuse me, please.
[Sgt. Heath] We've traced the fingerprints,
and this is the bird that was in the closet.
He saw the Canary murdered.
Gentlemen,
here is the man who was in the Canary's clothes closet
and who witnessed her murder.
Hmm.
Well, I shouldn't like to be the man he saw.
[Louis] Hmm. (Chuckles)
Thank goodness he didn't see me through the keyhole.
So that man witnessed a murder?
Singularly unattractive countenance.
Well, if he knows, why doesn't he tell who did it?
Gentlemen, I've been instructed by the district attorney
to inform you that you're all free to go home.
Thank goodness for that.
I wonder what the wife will say?
Has anyone a fountain pen, please?
There's mine.
Oh, thank you, Jimmy.
[Louis] Bye.
Now, what I didn't tell you about this bird, Mr. Vance,
in front of the others, is that he phoned in
and said that he'd be in
the district attorney's office tomorrow
and spill the whole works.
He says that he saw the guy that croaked the Canary,
and he'll come in and tell us who it was.
Now, we haven't been able to locate him yet,
so I guess we just have to wait.
Well, Sergeant,
that takes the matter out of my hands.
Markham, there can be no doubt of it.
The same person who strangled the Canary strangled Skeel.
This new murder was done to cover up the first.
Skeel was obviously blackmailing the Canary's murderer.
He threatened to inform the police
of what he had seen through the keyhole of the closet.
And when the murderer learned yesterday at the poker game
that the police knew who had been in the closet,
he put Skeel out of the way at
the earliest possible moment.
I believe you're right, Vance.
Oh, Mack?
Did any of the suspects get away from your men last night?
We never lost sight of Lindquist, Mannix, and the girl.
But young Spottswoode and Cleaver gave us the slip.
That'll be all.
Okay, Chief.
Vance,
that leaves Jimmy and Cleaver.
Morning, Chief.
Good morning, Heath.
Boys.
Hello, Mr. Vance.
Good morning, Sergeant.
Well, Chief, everything's okay.
I've got the guilty man and I've got him right.
You've got him?
I hope to tell you I have.
Where is he?
[Sgt. Heath] All right, Mack, bring him in.
(door clunking)
Mr. Vance!
Jimmy.
This fool arrested me this morning at breakfast
for the murder.
Why, it's just like shooting fish in a cup, Chief.
I've got all the dope, and I've got it down pat.
Motive and everything.
Now, this dame, Alice, croaked the Canary,
jealous because she's stolen her fella.
The kid here bumped Skeel off to shut his mouth
and to protect the dame.
A lie!
That isn't all, Chief.
I've got the evidence.
And it's not psychology, Mr. Vance.
Mr. Vance, he lies.
He hasn't any evidence. He couldn't have.
Just a minute, Jimmy.
Sergeant, what is your theory?
Well, I don't go on theory.
I use cold facts, Mr. Vance.
Now, you wait a minute.
Did you ever see that pen?
Yes. It's mine.
You bet your life it's yours.
Take a look at that pen, Mr. Vance.
Chief?
Well?
Now, listen to this:
This morning, I found that pen on the floor there
by the table where Skeel was murdered,
and the kid, here, admits that it's his.
Well, young man, what have you to say?
Yes, I killed them.
Both of them.
[Sgt. Heath] I guess that does it, Chief.
We've got him in a sack.
Now, this dame, Alice-
Wait a minute!
You've got what you wanted, now take me out.
Take him away, Mack.
Well, I'll see you later at the office, Chief.
[Dist. Atty. Markham] All right, Heath.
Sorry, Mr. Vance.
Well, Vance, I guess that closed the case.
No, Markham, it doesn't.
What do you mean?
I mean, that the boy is not guilty.
Well, that's nonsense.
Not nonsense, Markham, because I know who is guilty.
Oh, come now, Vance, that's-
I tell you, Markham, I know.
And inside of one hour, you'll know, too.
I'm going to telephone at once to the real murderer
and have him come to the Canary's apartment.
And I want you to be there.
But the boy has confessed everything!
Markham, if you don't meet me there,
you'll be the laughingstock of New York in 24 hours
because I'll have a confession of the real murderer.
Well, all right, Vance,
if you want it that way,
I'll be there.
[Operator] Number, please.
Bayview, 2121.
[Operator] Bayview, 2121?
Yes, please.
(phone line taps)
This is Philo Vance.
I want to speak with-
[Man On Phone] Oh, hello, Philo, how are you?
I didn't recognize your voice.
I have something of extreme importance to tell you.
Jimmy has just been arrested.
He has confessed to the murder
of both the Canary and Skeel.
Do you understand?
[Man On Phone] Yes, I understand, Philo.
Jimmy is not guilty. I'm the man you want.
How soon will you meet me at the Canary's apartment?
[Man On Phone] it'll take me almost an hour
to get in from the country, but I'll be there.
Good.
(phone line taps)
(phone handset clunks)
(car engine whirring)
(train horn blaring)
(vehicles crashing)
It's been over an hour now, Vance.
Now, don't be impatient, Markham.
He'll be here.
Who is it you're expecting?
You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
And I must admit that without his confession,
I haven't a shred of real proof to offer you.
(phone ringing)
Hello?
Yes.
This is Mr. Vance speaking.
What?
Yes.
All right.
What is it, Vance?
Spottswoode has just been killed in a motor accident.
Spottswoode killed?
My sympathies, old man.
I know what great friends you were.
It's worse than you realize, Markham.
It was Spottswoode who killed both the Canary and Skeel.
Spottswoode?
I've known it ever since the poker game.
But how could you know?
Sit down, Markham.
It wasn't really so difficult.
Remember, the man who committed this particular crime
must have had certain definite qualities.
A mind capable of working out a well-planned
and brilliant course of action.
Willing to take a desperate chance and see it through.
Now, consider the men in the game.
Jimmy, I ruled out at the start.
But I've known him as a boy,
and his youth and impulsiveness
were hardly consistent with such a...
Such an obviously premeditated murder.
Lindquist was far too excitable and erratic
to have plotted such a carefully calculated crime.
Cleaver, much too cautious,
and entirely lacking in the necessary boldness.
Mannix, timid and unwilling to take any risk,
except upon an absolutely sure thing.
The only man at the table with enough imagination
to plan such a crime
and with sufficient self-confidence
and daring to carry it through was Spottswoode.
When he held a pair of deuces, refused to draw to them,
and bet every chip he had on the chance of bluffing me out,
the realization suddenly dawned upon me
that he was the murderer.
For he was the one man of them all
psychologically fitted for such an act.
But, um, how about finding Jimmy's pen
in the Skeel apartment?
I borrowed Jimmy's fountain pen after the poker game.
My hypothesis is that, in the confusion,
Spottswoode put the pen into his own pocket,
and that Jimmy saw him do it.
That is why Jimmy made his confession,
to shield his father.
Yes, but against all that theory, Vance,
we have certain definite facts.
Now, for instance, Spottswoode left the Canary's apartment
while she was still alive.
He talked to her through that door.
The hall boy, looking through the keyhole,
saw the Canary lying on this sofa smoking a cigarette.
Spottswoode then went away
and spent the rest of the evening with you.
True.
And yet I know he committed the murder.
And I've got to find out how he did it.
I'm afraid you will, Vance, so that Jimmy can go free.
Spottswoode, himself, was coming here
to tell how it was done in order to free Jimmy.
And now he's dead.
I've got to solve it.
(clock bell chiming)
I think I have the whole thing.
Now, follow me closely.
The Canary was lying there.
Spottswoode, let us say, was standing here,
making a final plea for his boy.
Which met with an absolute refusal.
He walked around to the head of the sofa.
Suddenly, he clapped his hand over her mouth
and, with his other hand, caught her necklace,
and before she had a chance to cry out, he strangled her.
He then proceeded to set the stage
to make it appear that the crime had been committed
with robbery as a motive.
He stripped her jewels from her
and placed them in his pocket.
Then
he took a cigarette from that box and lit it.
He laid her hand here,
placed the cigarette between her fingers
so that in case anyone
should look through the keyhole of that door there,
it would appear as if she were lying here smoking.
He then overturned the entire apartment
to make it look as if a burglar had ransacked the place.
Now, just step over here, Markham.
He came to this closet door, but he couldn't open it.
Skeel had locked himself in,
though Spottswoode didn't know that.
And Skeel, through the keyhole,
saw everything that Spottswoode did.
That accounts for the orderly condition of this one closet
when everything else in the apartment was ransacked.
And that, Markham, was the technique of the crime itself.
But that doesn't account for the fact that-
Just a minute.
I haven't quite finished.
I want you to go out into the hall and stand at the desk
where Spottswoode stood when he ordered his cab.
Very well.
(woman screaming)
[Woman On Record] Something startled me,
Mr. Spottswoode,
but I'm all right now.
Yes, quite sure.
Run along home, and come back in the morning.
[Philo] You understand now?
This record was Spottswoode's alibi.
Undoubtedly, the reason he returned here the next morning
was to get it back.
But he was prevented by the arrival of the officer
who entered the apartment with him.
The Canary was dead
when the scream issued from the apartment that night.
She was dead when she apparently spoke to Spottswoode
through the door.
But what clue led you to the phonograph record?
It was this magazine.
That is hardly a magazine the Canary would have read,
so I concluded that someone else must have brought it here.
Then, in running through the pages,
I happened to notice this.
Look closely.
You see it?
Why, yes, the-the imprint of a large circle.
And on the opposite page?
Well, the same thing.
Precisely.
As if a disc had been pressed between the two pages.
That brought to my mind the thought of a phonograph record.
And suddenly, the whole plot became clear to me.
It was the only way that Spottswoode
could have committed the murder
and have produced a voice in the apartment
after the Canary's death.
I can't understand how he could have reproduced
the Canary's voice.
It wasn't the Canary's voice, Markham.
Spottswoode made that record himself.
Probably it was his own voice in falsetto.
And, remember, it was only necessary to fool the house boy
and through a closed door.
Yes. I can see it all now.
He played the game shrewdly and boldly.
It was Jimmy's whole life's happiness that was at stake,
and Spottswoode risked his own life for his boy.
Goodbye, Mr. Vance.
You'll never know how grateful we are.
Goodbye, my dear.
I wish you great happiness.
Oh, thank you.
Goodbye, Jimmy.
Your happiness will come.
Thank you, Mr. Vance.
I...
I can't say any more just now.
Well, Mr. Vance.
Well, Sergeant.
I guess we put it over again.
Right you are, Sergeant.
Many thanks.
Well, I'll be seeing you later.
Goodbye.
Goodbye, Sergeant.
(bright orchestral music)